Influence of Antibacterial Peptides in Drinking Water on Growth and Intestinal Health of European Meat Pigeon

This study evaluated insect-derived antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as sustainable alternatives to antibiotics in European meat pigeon production. Using a randomized design, 360 breeding pairs with squabs were allocated to four groups (n = 90/group; 1:1 sex ratio). Controls received untreated water, while treatment groups received 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg AMPs in drinking water for 30 days. Squab growth parameters were monitored at five intervals, followed by slaughter trait analysis, 16S rRNA sequencing, and jejunal gene expression quantification. Key findings demonstrated that 600 mg/kg AMPs significantly enhanced live weight of squabs, breast/leg muscle percentage, and slaughter yield of squabs compared to controls, with those parameters exhibiting significant linear dose responses. This dosage concurrently improved feed intake and daily weight gain while substantially reducing feed conversion ratio. In breeding pigeons, 400-600 mg/kg AMPs promoted intestinal remodeling, evidenced by linearly increased villus height and up-regulated tight junction gene expression (Cldn2, Ocln, ZO-1), alongside reduced crypt-to-villus ratios. Microbiome modulation revealed enrichment of beneficial Lactobacillus and suppression of pathogenic taxa, correlating with enhanced barrier function. These results confirm that AMPs supplementation at 600 mg/kg optimizes growth performance through microbiota-mediated intestinal enhancement, establishing a viable antibiotic-free strategy.